Indenting machine



July .21, 1936. F, KEALL 2,048,073

INDENTING MACHIN E Filed May 1, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1. M

July 21, 1936. F. B. KEALL 2,043,073

' INDENTING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 ga 7 z w 4% Fig.3.

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iJ Y UNITED STATES Patented July 21, 1936 PATENT OFFICE i INDENTING mcnnvc 1 Application May 1, 1934, Serial No.*723,344

, In Great Britain Ma'y 10, 1933 i a V 24 Claims.

This invention relates to finishing. machines and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine of .the typefldisclosed in United States Letters. Patent No. 958,913, granted on May 24,1910, in the name of L. W. G. Flynt.

Machines of this type are commonly employed in making ShOES'fOl the purpose of imparting a seriesvof decorative indentations to the upper marginal; surface of the portion of a shoe which projects :laterally from the upper. 1; .In the use of a machine of the type disclosed in :the above-mentioned patent,-a continuously rotated tool, iscaused both to indent the upper surface of the welt of a welted shoe or the similar surface of a shoe having an other-than-welt construction and also to effect a feed movement of the shoe which is supported beneath the tool by a work ,restwhich rotates freely in response to the feed; movement imparted to the shoe by the tool Moreover, it is recognized by those skilled in this art that whereas the indenting operation can beperformed satisfactorily while employing asubstantially constant indenting pressure, the operation can nevertheless be performed quicker and more effectively if thein denting pressure is applied as by a rapid succession of short impulses.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved machine having both these operating characteristics in the construction of which thedifiiculty of positively rotating a tool which at the same time is vibratdrapidly in a direction extending transversely of its axis is overcome. To this end, the machine in which the invention is illustrated as embodied comprises work rest, a rotating tool shaft carrying an indenting tooland mountedfor movement toward and away from the' work rest, means for a continuously "rotatingthe' shaft, and means for positively moving the shaft directly toward and away from the work rest to cause the tool to beat againstva work piece on said work rest. Such a." machine answers the requirements referred to above by" providing an uninterrupted feeding movement of the'work derived from the continuous rotation of thetool itself while the latter ismoved alternately in opposite directions normal to the surface of thework rest ODPOsite to ed as above described, of crank operated means for moving the shaft as described above toward and away from the 'work rest to cause a rapid succession of blows to beimparted by the tool to a workpiece on the work rest. 5

The crank operated means referred to above,

as herein illustrated, comprises a connecting rod and a crank for operating the connecting rod, the connecting rod being constructed and arranged, inone'illustrative embodiment of the invention, to reciprocate a slide in which the indentng tool is rotatably mounted, and in another embodiment ofthe invention, bodily to swing the shaft carrying the indenting tool, the tool shaft in this case being mounted to swing transversely of its axis 16 about apoint at its axis remote from the tool.

Variations in the thickness of shoe parts, as

indented in prior machines of which applicant is aware, result in corresponding difierences in the amount of indenting pressure exerted by the tool 20 against the work. That is, thick portions of the worklreceiv'e a greater indenting pressure than thin portions of the work whether the support for the work is arranged resiliently to yield or is adjustably fixed, with regard to its position relatively to the tool. Excessive indenting pressure may crush the work; and if the indenting pressure is inadequate, the regularity of the indentations will be impaired.

With the foregoing in view, another object of the invention is to provide an improved work supporting mechanism the use of which with an indenting tool insures uniformity in the indentations. To this end, the invention provides in an indenting machine having an indenting tool and a work rest mountedfor movement toward and away from the tool, operator-controlled means for movingthework rest toward the tool to cause indenting pressure to be applied to a work piece therebetween, and a yielding support for the operator-controlled means arranged to resist the said indenting pressure'with a substantially constant force throughout a limited range of movement of the work rest. This limited range of movement of the work rest is great enough to include the normal and usual variation in work pieces upon which the indenting operation is performed. Uniformity in the indenting pressure is obtained in the illustrated machine, irrespective of normal variations in the thickness of the work,iby utilizing thegravitational effect of a weighted'member, a lever in the illustrated embodiment of. the invention, which is mounted 55 to swing about its fulcrum in response to variations in the thickness of the work.

For the purpose of facilitating the insertion of a work-piece to be operated upon between the work rest and the tool, the above-mentioned means for moving the work rest preferably and as herein illustrated includes, as an important feature o'f the. invention, connections between the rest and the weighted member arranged normally to hold the rest in its inoperative positionbut efiectof the weighted member to causerit fto set up an indenting pressure between the'tdolan'd a work-piece which has-been parriedintQeneJ gagement with the tool.

Even a normal indenting pressure, if impart by an indenting tool against: a work piece having an abnormally soft portion, will crush the-twqrk piece at this location to the detriment of the shoe. Accordingly, it is desirable that the indenting pressure in such-a case be relieved'when the tool into the work l as occurred.

Theseand other features ofthetin vention will now ..m .re .fu lr-set-fpr h inlt efo ow e specification with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is afront elevation of illustrative enibodiment, of the. invention, a partof this view being in vsection Fig, 2 isa fragmentarysectional vie. taken along the line IIII in'Fig. 1i; I

. Fig.3 is a view in side. elevation of;the machine illustrated-in. Fig. 1, a; part of thisi yiew. being shown. in section,.and.

:Fig; 4 ..is a sectional side anotherembodimentlof the present invention; I

I As. shown .in the. drawings .the .actual work-rest is'in the formof a freely rotatable disc l0.mount-.-

ed adjustably for tiltingabout .a' horizontaleaxis upon an arcuatemember l2 held :in. an arm- L4 which is pivoted to the rearof .the. machine :frame l5 atliir The discil ili'sadaptedto support a shoe by engagement with the tread surface'of the sole in such manner that the upper margin ..or-..wel

of the shoe-sole.ispresentedyto the action. of. a toothed-wheel i8 which is continuously rotated by -power andals'o rec'eives small but rapidvere being-treatedand aid to preventscoring of.:-the

. in a guide 24 fixed to-zthe' machine frame-l 5s- The tical reciprocations as will be fully explained here-.- inafter. A pair of guiding fingers 2 I are. placed so as to have contact with-the upper oftheshoe pper-by the end of the wheel 1-8.v v 'The member l2 r'ests upon the upper. send-10f a plunger 22 which'is 'mounted to slide vertically plungerilhas a threaded" stem 26 entering (a sleeve 28 having a:knurled-hand nutv 30 which rests upon. a horizontal. face. of a .member .32 hay-.-

ing a stem33 which enters aborein the sleeve. 28.

By turning the nut 3.0 the ;plunger-22;.may be ad: justed vertically.- so...as to :adjust. .thedistance ;be.-.

tween the top. of thevdiscl0 and. theunderside of the indenting wheel I 8,.in accordance with the thickness of theworkto'be treated. The member. 32 is-c'onnectd by links..34, 3,4 to a pivotpin- 36 in 2azsupportcontrolling lever 38. 'Thislever 38 is pivoted upon a-circular boss which is'inturn pivotedto' the machine column 42 about a stud 43 the centre of which isofiset a small distance laterally from the centre of the boss40. The links 34 and the arm of the lever 38 to which they are attached thus constitute a toggle which when collapsedfas when the lever 38 abuts a stop 58 mounted for adjustment in a lug extending laterally. from the column 42; causes" the work rest I 0 to be held inits, inoperative positionfthat is," retracted from the tool l 8*so as to eliminate the necessity for'treadling the machine operable also in opposition to the gravitational to permit the work to be inserted between the tool and the work rest. Fixed to or integral with the 7 boss is an arm 44 adapted to carry a weight *"4f6 th position-offwhich on the arm is adjustable.

Projecting from the side of the column 42 is an arm 48 carrying a'stop 50 arranged to limit the downward'movement of the arm 44. 0ne end of the: lever 38 is connected at 52 by an adjustable tie-rodi ito a treadle (not shown). A spring 56 connecting the lever 38 and the machine column 42 normallyipullsthe lever-38 upwardly into con-.

tact with the stop screw 58'. a.

A. spring and stop corresponding to 56 and 5a may be attached to the treadle itself instead of to the lever 38 as shown. an, :.1 I In the-machine illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3,

the indenting wheel l8-.itself is' fixed on the outer extremity of a shaf t 6'0 which is rotatably mounted 1 ina' sliding bearing block 62-. I The bearing block is rapidlyrec'iprocated, directly toward and aviay from the work support N w a connecting rod 64 which is "attachedtoltheblock 62 by a. bolt 66 and is" mounted on an eccentric 68 formed on one end'of a shaft 10 journaled inthe upper part of the frame" IS; The other'end of the shaft 10 carriesa'pulley 1-2 andin the normal operation of the'machirie-is to be driven by a belt or 'otherj.

convenient-driving means'ata speed in the-vicinity; of 2000 R. P. 'The eccentricity of the eccentric 68 should be determined' withreference to the'type of work forwhich the machine is to be used; and the pitch of the indenting-teeth on the wheel '-|8, 'and{ may "be in the vicinity of'l mm.

for examplelf 'I'he bearing block 62 is guided by ways '74- formed in the front portion of the machine frame IE'and plates 61 which are secured to the frame i5 adjacent to the ways as indiwan "theindenting wheel is is thus rapidly reciprocated, it'is'also continuouslyrotated; The

wheel 18' is thus driven from a shaft 18 'journaled in the 'frain'e l 5 through connections of the type r knownas apxOldhamcotipling comprising a'member 8 0 having-a spline ,82' which is received in'a" keywayin aflanged member 84 which-is pinned to the'e'n'd ofithe wheel shaft L remote from the wheel l8, i The member at the side'opposite to the spline 82'is grooved to receive a "spline 8li at rightang'les to the first spline andfextending fromj thejradial'surfa'ce of afiange 88 integral withthe s'haft 'l8. Aidrivingl connection is thus 'm'aintainedbetweenj'thelshaft l8 and the wheel shaft 1 to notwithstanding the reciprocation of the lat; ter, "The'sh'a'ft 18 carries aspur gear:90 whichis,

of the indenting wheel mechanism just described. This mechanism. as illustrated in Fig. 4, comprises a tool shaft I on which is rotatably mounteda spur gear "12, the latter being positively driven by a pinion I04 fixed to the inner end of a drive shaft I06. A driving connection between the gear I92 and the shaft I69 can be obtained by a clutch mechanism Hi3 which is actuated by a forked lever I it). Except as will bepointed out hereinafter, the construction referred to above is substantially the same as that disclosed in the above-mentioned Flynt patent, to which reference may be made for a more detailed description of the parts common to both of these constructions. The end of the tool shaft I00 adjacent to the indenting tool H2 has formed thereon a spherical bearing-surface l M which is engaged by a complementary surface formed within the lower end of a connecting rod 1 [6 which, for the sake of convenience in manufacture, is made in two parts which are secured together by screws H8. 'The connecting rod H6 is driven at its upper end by an eccentric I26 on a shaft I22 the end of which opposite the eccentric carries a pulley I24 which is to be driven at a speed in the vicinity of 2000 R. P. M., as in the case of the similar shaft in the construction illustrated in the other figures. The tool shaft I00 is supported at the end adjacent to the tool against vertically directed pressures by the connecting rod I I6 and against laterally directed pressures by a bearing l26 which is so shaped as to have line contact with the shaft I60 at the sides and is relieved at the top and bottom in accordance with the eccentricity of the eccentric I26 whereby the shaft I00 is guided laterally but is permitted to rise or fall in response to the action of the connectingrod H6. The tool shaft I60 is supported at its end remote from the tool by a bearing I28 7 the bearing surface of which is tapered somewhat as shown by exaggeration in Fig. 4 so as to allow the tool shaft N16 to swing about a point at its axis and within this bearing. The throw of the eccentric [26 being relatively small, about .020 of .an inch, it is apparent that the curvature of the bearing i28 may be very small and that the effective bearing surface presented by the bearing I28 is not materially diminished as a result of this construction. Similarly, the meshing relation of the gears H32 and its is not materially altered owing to the swing of the tool shaft as the movement of the'gear 562 is smaller than that of the tool in proportion to their relative distances from the point about which the tool shaft I06 swings.

The operation of the above mechanism will now be described, it being understood that a downward movement of the treadle connected to the rod 54 will, by turning the lever 38, straighten the toggle constituted by its upper portion and the links as and thereby raise the sleeve 28, plunger 22 and disc I9. Firstly the nut 30 will be set with reference to the average thickness of the marginal portion of a shoe to be operated upon so that it can be inserted between the disc 26 and the wheel l8 when the treadle is in its raised position with the lever 38 against the stop 58. The rod 54 is also adjusted so that when the treadle is depressed to its full extent the disc l6 will be raised, owing to the straightening of the toggle referred to above, a distancejust china operator having placed a shoe in posi- 'tionwill depress the treadle to its full extent and hold it down during the entire operation of indenting a shoe sole margin.

Until the disc ID, by carrying the sole margin against the wheel 18, encounters resistance offered by the tool to further upward travel the pin 36 can continue moving around the boss 60 with a component of upward movement. As soon-however as this upward movement of the pin 36 is resisted, further depression of the treadle, which is in opposition to the gravitational effect of the weight 46, will cause the lever 38 acting through the disc 40 to rock the arm 44 about its pivot 13 and cause the arm 64 and weight 46 to be lifted; and so long as this lifting persists the whole work-supporting mechanism composed of the disc l0, plunger 22, sleeve 28 and other members through which the effect of theweight 46 is transmitted will have a considerable degree of yielding but sluggish worksupporting resistance provided by the weight 46 which enables the work-support to follow, by gradual upward or downward movement, any

Variations in thickness of a shoe sole margin 0 being treated but does not respond to the rapid variations of pressure caused by the vertical reciprocation or vibration of the indenting wheel.

' The provision of the stop 50, giving a definite 0 point beyond which the weight 46 will not tend to raise the disc It), enables sole margins which vary in hardness as opposed to thickness to be successfully treated. If some portion of a sole margin happens to be considerably softer than the average, maintenance of full pressure between the .wheel l8 and disc I!) might tend to squeeze such portion entirely out of its desired shape or even to cause the wheel to cut through some layer such as a welt or middle sole composing the margin. Any substantial reduction of resistance of the sole margin to the pressure of the supporting disc and wheel will however allow the disc to rise, the arm 44- and weight l6 will then correspondingly descend and as soon as the arm'contacts with the stop 59 the effect of the weight and hence the indenting pressure is di minished or removed.

1 The above-described work supporting mechanismis adapted for use with either type of tool driving mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. In either case, feed movement is imparted to a work-piece disposed between the tool or wheel and the work rest l0 owing to the continuous rotation of the tool or wheel, the work rest being mounted to rotate freely. Moreover, the success of the indenting operation is insured not only by the yielding resistance of the work rest to the indenting pressure of the tool or wheel but also by the regular and definitely controlled reciprocating or beating action of the tool or wheel which results from its being moved positively toward and away from the work, by either of the illustrated crank-operated mechanisms, as it is rotated.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an indenting machine, a rotatable work rest, an. indenting tool, a tool shaft carrying said tool mounted for'movement toward and away from said work rest, means for continuously rotating said tool shaft whereby a feed movement is imparted to a work-piece held against the tool 75" c by said work rest, and means for, vibrating the as it is rotated thereby to cause the indenting tool shaft toward and away from the work rest to cause the tool to beat against. ,the work-piece.

2. In an indenting machine, a work rest, an indenting, tool, 'a tool shaft carrying said tool mounted, for movement toward and away from said work rest, means for continuously rotating said tool shaft, and means for positively moving the tool shaft directly toward andaway from the work rest to cause the tool to beat against a workpiece on said work rest.

' 3. In an'indenting machine, a rotatable Work rest, an indenting tool, a tool shaft carrying said tool mounted for movement transversely of its axis toward and away from the work rest, means for continuously rotating said tool shaft whereby a'feed movement is imparted to a work-piece held thereagainst by said work rest, and connections acting upon said tool shaft to move it alternately in opposite directions normal to the surface of said work rest opposite to the tool. V

4. In an, indenting machine, an indenting wheel, a work rest, a shaft for supporting said indenting wheel mounted for movement toward and away from said work rest in a direction extending transversely of the 'axis'of said shaft, means for continuously rotating said shaft, and crank-operated means for positively moving the shaft toward and away from the work rest to cause a rapid succession'of blows to be imparted by the wheel to a work-piece on the work restr H 5. In an indentingmachine, a rotatable work rest, an indenting wheeha shaft carrying said indenting wheel mounted for movement bodily to-, ward and away from the work rest in a direction extending transversely of the axis of the shaft, means for continuously rotating said wheel shaft whereby the wheel is caused to impart a feed movement to a work-piece presented thereto on said work rest, and mechanism for moving said wheel shaft toward and away from the work rest comprising a connecting rod, and a continuously rotating crank for operating said connectingrod.

6. In an indenting machine, a work rest, an in-- denting wheel, a member rotatably supporting said wheel mounted .to slide toward and away fromsaid work rest, means for continuously rotating said wheel, and means connected to said to impart a succession ofblows against a work piece on said work rest.

8. In anindentingmachine, a work rest; an indenting tool, a slide rotatably supporting said tool, said slide being mounted for movement toward and away from said work rest, means for continuouslyrotating said tool, andmechanism for positively moving said slide toward and away from said work rest comprising a connecting rod and a crank for operating said connecting rod.

9, In an indenting machine, a work rest, an indenting wheel, arotating shaft carrying said indenting wheel and mounted for swinging move-' mentdirectly i toward and away from the work rest and means for positively swinging said shaft wheel to beat againsta work-piece on the work rest.

10. In an indentingmachine'a work rest, an

indenting wheeL said wheelbeing carried by 18 shaft mounted to swing about apoint at its axis 'and remote from the wheel, and crank-operated means for positively swinging said wheel shaft as it is continuously rotated to cause'said wheel to impinge upon a work-piece on said work rest with a rapid succession of blows. qll. In an indenting machine, a work 7 indenting wheel, a rotating shaft carrying said indenting wheel and mounted for; swinging move: ment, means for rotating said shaft, andmecha-; nism for swinging said shaft to cause said wheel to beat against a work-piece onsaid work rest, said mechanism comprising a connecting rod and a crank for operating said connecting rod. s V

12. In an indenting machine, an indenting tool,

rest, an a a work rest mounted 'for'movement toward and away from the tool, a supportfor said work rest including a weighted member a-nd connections tion and operable in opposition to the gravita tional effect of said Weighted member to cause it to set up an indenting pressure between the tool and the work-piece which has been moved into 1 I V engagement with the tool. 7

13. In an indentingmachine anjindenting tool, awork rest mounted for movement toward and away from, the tool, operatorrcontrolled' means for moving the work rest toward the tool to causean indenting pressure to be exerted by the e tool against thework piece on the work rest, and means acting upon said last mentioned means constructed and arranged to resist with 'a 'sub- 1 indenting pressure to be applied to a Work piece V therebetweemand a'yielding support for the oper- I ator controlled means arranged to resist the said indenting pressure with a substantially constant force throughout a limited range of movementof the'work rest. V a

* 15. In an indenting machine, an indenting tool,

a work rest mounted for movement toward and away from the tool, a toggle mechanism for moving said Work .rest toward the indenting tool thereby to .cause an indenting pressure to be exerted ona work piece disposed therebetween,

and yieldingsupporting means for said toggle mechanism mounted and arrangedto resist said indenting 7 pressure gravitationally.

16. In an indenting machine, an indenting tool, a work rest mounted'for movement toward and away from the tool, operator controlled means for moving said Work resttowai'd said tool tocause indenting pressure to be exertedjagainst a workpiece disposed therebetween, and aweightedlever, said operator controlled means being mounted on said lever for limited yielding movement about its fulcrum whereby a substantiallyconstant force is r c I applied by the workrest against the work'as the work rest moves toward and awayfrom the tool in response to variations'in the thickness -of the work. 7 g a Y c I V 7 1'7. In an indenting machine, an indenting tool,

a'work rest mounted for movement toward'and away from the tool, an operator controlled toggle for moving said work rest to carry a work piece thereon in operative relation to the tool, and a yielding support for said toggle constructed and arranged gravitationally to resist the indenting pressure of the tool when said toggle is straightened.

18. In an indenting machine, an indenting tool, a Work rest mounted for movement toward and away from the tool, a weighted member mounted for movement in a direction having a vertical component, and means connecting said weighted member and work rest for moving a work-piece on the latter into operative relation withthe tool whereby the center of gravity of said weighted imember is raised and indenting pressure is applied to the work piece by the tool.

19. In an indenting machine, an indenting tool, a work rest, a weighted member, operator-controlled means interposed between said work rest and weighted member mounted and arranged successively to move said rest away from said member to carry a shoe on the rest into engagement 7 with the tool and then to cause said member gravitationally to hold the work against the tool.

20. In an indenting machine, an indenting tool, a work rest, collapsible means for moving said 'work rest toward the tool in order to cause the latter to impart an indenting pressure against the work, and a weighted lever for supporting said collapsible-means against said indenting pressure 'inounted to swing about its fulcrum in response to variations in the thickness of the work.

21. In an indenting machine, an indenting tool, Ta work rest, a weighted lever, and means carried by said lever for supporting said work rest normally in its inoperative position said means being operable to carry a work-piece on said work rest into engagement with the tool whereby indenting pressure is imparted by the tool to the work.

22. In an indenting machine, an indenting tool, a work rest mounted for movement toward and away from the tool, means for moving said work rest to present a work piece thereon to the tool comprising an operator-controlled toggle mechanism, and a weighted member for supporting said toggle mechanism constructed and arranged to resist the indenting pressure of the tool with a predetermined substantially constant force and to rise and fall in response to variations in the thickness of the work-piece.

23. In an indenting machine, an indenting tool, a work rest, means for supporting said work rest against the action of the tool comprising an operator-controlled toggle mechanism, and a weighted lever connected to said toggle mechanism constructed and arranged to allow the work rest to yield in response to a predetermined amount of pressure between the tool and the work.

24. In an indenting machine, an indenting tool, a work rest mounted for movement toward and away from the tool, a Weighted member mounted for movement in a direction having a vertical component, a stop for limiting the downward movement of said member, collapsible connecu 

